Because like Cook or Jobs said it best, you should not merge a fridge and a toaster.
A Smartphone for me is too narrow. It's also not that great for making actual calls.
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iPad mini to kill the iPhone/smartphone?
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Because like Cook or Jobs said it best, you should not merge a fridge and a toaster.
A Smartphone for me is too narrow. It's also not that great for making actual calls.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I'm looking at the iPad Mini as the potential everything device with VOIP to cover occasional mobile phone needs (no smart or dumb phone required). My own situation is one where I don't need to take many calls live (instead, calls in will typically go to voice mail). So all I really need is a mobile way to call out/call back for which VOIP via options like Skype would work just fine. Earbuds + Mic to talk while viewing the screen in hand, AT&T network so that one can chat and browse at the same time. The iPad cellular options are far more economical than the iPhone monthly plans and they are on-demand instead of contract.
I've always found the iPhone- including the new one- too small for my hands and too costly when factoring in the 24-month contract costs. iPad Mini looks like a complete win for my situation.
If you want an even smaller form factor than the iPad mini you can do what I have done for the past few weeks:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1465636/
I use this app for free incoming/outgoing calls which works FLAWLESSLY on LTE and wifi.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phone-for-google-voice-talk/id541829441?mt=8
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1465636/
I use this app for free incoming/outgoing calls which works FLAWLESSLY on LTE and wifi.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phone-for-google-voice-talk/id541829441?mt=8
Since the mini has no voice cellular capabilities, the talk and surf feature is irrelevant.
BTW. The talk and surf is a gimic anyway, as AT&T limit your data session to a few megs a second when you do this - even on LTE.
This is where this tablet is awesome because it also has a hotspot. Therefore, is not affected by the talk and surf limitation of a smartphone.
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That's what I have been doing with AT&T too.
BTW. The talk and surf is a gimic anyway, as AT&T limit your data session to a few megs a second when you do this - even on LTE.
This is where this tablet is awesome because it also has a hotspot. Therefore, is not affected by the talk and surf limitation of a smartphone.
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That's what I have been doing with AT&T too.
It has crossed my mind. I went with the WiFi only option this time on the iPad mini, and also on an upgrade from iPad 1 to the 4 because I have used the cellular option on iPad-1 exactly zero times. I have iPhone 4S with a year on the contract to go. I have another line with an LG CU515 phone on it, way past contract, but amazingly it still holds a charge for months when turned off, so I cart around as a standby. I use it now and then when I forget that my iPhone is in a charger, not in my handbag. My usage of cell time is pretty mimimal anyway since I live in a dead zone.
Bottom line it's possible I'd get the next mini Ipad refresh with a cellular option, and then let the iPhone become a WiFi device and not go for the iPhone 6 when it comes out. Get something newer than my trusty LG CU515 for talking. Possible, far from certain.
I do not consider iPhone (or iPod touch) and the iPad mini as interchangeable, either on size or for how I use them. It's just that I think I could use iPod touch how I use iPhone now except for calls, switch my cellular data usage to the iPad mini and use something like that CU515 or whatever, hate to call it a dumb phone, as an actual phone.
It doesn't faze me to have multiple gadgets in a handbag, although I sometimes get amusing comments from security at places like courthouses or the local county office buildlings. I did get the 5th gen iPod touch so I'm probably going to play with this scenario in my head more as the 2nd year of my 4S iPhone contract runs along.
The only time I think i might not like this setup is that it doesn't translate to my current "travel light" mode which is to put five bucks in the mesh pocket of my iPhone jacket, stick the jacketed iPhone and my housekeys in regualr jeans pocket and go for a walk. That mini iPad would start asking me to buy clothes with cargo pockets and my budget is trashed already. So I'd leave that home for my walks but I sure might miss my iPhone in that circumstance, it's kind of like a Swiss Army knife.
You know, it seems like a common problem here: we all assume that that's good for our single need is good for EVERYONE.
*I* don't want an iPad mini, and won't be getting one. It duplicates my full size iPad, only smaller. No thanks.
But I realize that others are put off by the full size of the iPad, but also want something bigger than an iPhone. If that's you, fine.
Apple is just making sure that people with different use cases are getting served by their products. On the principle alone, no way will the iPad mini kill the iPhone, no more than the Samsung Galaxy Note has killed the Samsung Galaxy S III.
*I* don't want an iPad mini, and won't be getting one. It duplicates my full size iPad, only smaller. No thanks.
But I realize that others are put off by the full size of the iPad, but also want something bigger than an iPhone. If that's you, fine.
Apple is just making sure that people with different use cases are getting served by their products. On the principle alone, no way will the iPad mini kill the iPhone, no more than the Samsung Galaxy Note has killed the Samsung Galaxy S III.
This is exactly what I'll be doing! In fact I never upgraded from my iPad 1 because I was waiting for them to come out with the Mini. Have my Nook up for sale now, will be putting my iPad 1 and iPhone 4 up for sale as soon as the mini comes and then I will pick up a cheap Verizon non-smart phone and everything will be covered.
I will basically only need my laptop for any hardcore spreadsheets to be done on.
This is potentially a workable model:
- PAYG dumb phone for emergency calls or inbound calls (Nokia and LG might make a come back in the dumb phone space)
- iPad mini LTE for everything else.
Let's look at some facts using my situation as an example:
- during the day, I am at work, if people need to reach me, they can call my work, send me a text (iMessage, whatsapp, etc.), e-mail (work PC or iPad mini LTE), or call my dumb phone if really urgent (rarely happens)
- after work, I am at home, I got WIFI, computers, my dumb phone, and my iPad LTE. This is usually when I will be conducting personal calls. Which people can text me to call them, reach me on skype, line, google talk, and many other VoIP application on my computer or iPad
- when I am out, dumb phone will serve occasions where I need to get a hold of someone quickly, or I can use a bluetooth headset/or earbuds, and make VoIP calls from the iPad mini LTE using say, MagicJack, GoogleTalk or Skype. Or people can reach me on my dumb phone.
Cost analysis:
Option 1:- iPhone 5 on contract with data plan and voice plan etc: at least $60/month or $720 per year, plus paying $199 for the first year and stuck with contract (assume don't cancel). So that's about $820 per year for 2 years (US) or 3 years (Canada)
Options 2:
- iPad mini LTE up front cost : $459
- Monthly Data Plan fee : say $35/month or $420/year
- dumb phone on PAYG : let's be generous, say $100 for 1 year.
Summary:
- The price for the device is about the same.
- You save at least $200/year
- Chances are you will probably have an iPad or a iPad mini even if you have an iPhone (so if you can skip the iPhone, you are saving the $199 up front cost, save yourself from contracts, and save at least $200/year - more if you are on a more expensive plan).
- I guess it makes sense if you are on a budget, but the savings are probably not too significant for people with a decent job to want to go through the hassle of implementing it.
- PAYG dumb phone for emergency calls or inbound calls (Nokia and LG might make a come back in the dumb phone space)
- iPad mini LTE for everything else.
Let's look at some facts using my situation as an example:
- during the day, I am at work, if people need to reach me, they can call my work, send me a text (iMessage, whatsapp, etc.), e-mail (work PC or iPad mini LTE), or call my dumb phone if really urgent (rarely happens)
- after work, I am at home, I got WIFI, computers, my dumb phone, and my iPad LTE. This is usually when I will be conducting personal calls. Which people can text me to call them, reach me on skype, line, google talk, and many other VoIP application on my computer or iPad
- when I am out, dumb phone will serve occasions where I need to get a hold of someone quickly, or I can use a bluetooth headset/or earbuds, and make VoIP calls from the iPad mini LTE using say, MagicJack, GoogleTalk or Skype. Or people can reach me on my dumb phone.
Cost analysis:
Option 1:- iPhone 5 on contract with data plan and voice plan etc: at least $60/month or $720 per year, plus paying $199 for the first year and stuck with contract (assume don't cancel). So that's about $820 per year for 2 years (US) or 3 years (Canada)
Options 2:
- iPad mini LTE up front cost : $459
- Monthly Data Plan fee : say $35/month or $420/year
- dumb phone on PAYG : let's be generous, say $100 for 1 year.
Summary:
- The price for the device is about the same.
- You save at least $200/year
- Chances are you will probably have an iPad or a iPad mini even if you have an iPhone (so if you can skip the iPhone, you are saving the $199 up front cost, save yourself from contracts, and save at least $200/year - more if you are on a more expensive plan).
- I guess it makes sense if you are on a budget, but the savings are probably not too significant for people with a decent job to want to go through the hassle of implementing it.
Thank you for that thoughtful analysis. I guess it's not that big of a savings, so it may not be worth it.
I guess so. Some people might feel better putting that extra $$$ towards a new device rather than padding the telecom's pocket book.
Also another oberservation is that in Canada at least, I am paying $30/month for 6GB of data, on an iPhone. Such plan is not available for tablets (cost a lot more per GB).
So usage will be another factor. For 6GB usage for example, might still be cheaper to pay the $30/month iPhone plan + a mandatory cheap voice plan, and have iPad mini WIFI tethered to it.
Since either way one will be carrying 2 devices.
1. lots of iPhones have toilet water damage
2. I thought iPad was supposed to be the toilet device
Just buy a personal number with Skype where you can receive calls at anytime? Skype app must be opened to see incoming calls? If off - how's their voicemail process? No missed calls?
I never paid for a Skype service ... I only use the wi-fi free calls and I forget their yearly rates etc too.
Yep. Most of my incoming calls are not that important but I'll be job hunting in the next 3 months - wait, I'll still have my iP5 thru mid next year (because of my AT&T) contract - I'll test or make some experiments in the next seven months if this is doable / feasible / practical or if I can live with these.
I love my iP5 and been making / receiving little & short / not really important / urgent calls only lately (most of this year).
Cost of various options in the US over 24 months....
OPTION 1: - Typical service w/ iPhone
AT&T
+ $45 - Unlimited Talk and text
+ $40 - 1gb Data
+ Taxes and Fees = ~ $8
= $93 * 24 months = $2,232
+ $199 (plus sales tax) to purchase an iPhone.
+ $329 (plus sales tax) iPad Wifi mini .
+ $45 - Unlimited Talk and text
+ $40 - 1gb Data
+ Taxes and Fees = ~ $8
= $93 * 24 months = $2,232
+ $199 (plus sales tax) to purchase an iPhone.
+ $329 (plus sales tax) iPad Wifi mini .
TOTAL = $2,760
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OPTION 2: - Mixed Services
AT&T Tablet plan
[$30 - 3GB]
* 24 months = $720
Page Plus Prepaid (Verizon Network)
[$29.95 - 1,200 Minutes, 3,000 Text/Picture - Messages, 100 MB Data]
* 24 months = $719
+ $459 (plus sales tax) for LTE iPad Mini
[$30 - 3GB]
* 24 months = $720
Page Plus Prepaid (Verizon Network)
[$29.95 - 1,200 Minutes, 3,000 Text/Picture - Messages, 100 MB Data]
* 24 months = $719
+ $459 (plus sales tax) for LTE iPad Mini
TOTAL = ~$1,898
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OPTION 3: - ** Don't use too many calls
AT&T Tablet plan
[$30 - 3GB]
* 24 months = $720
Page Plus Prepaid (Verizon Network)
[$12 per month - 250 Minutes, 250 Text/Picture Messages, 10 MB Data]
* 24 months = $288
+ $459 (plus sales tax) for LTE Mini
[$30 - 3GB]
* 24 months = $720
Page Plus Prepaid (Verizon Network)
[$12 per month - 250 Minutes, 250 Text/Picture Messages, 10 MB Data]
* 24 months = $288
+ $459 (plus sales tax) for LTE Mini
TOTAL = ~ $1,467
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OPTION 4: - Use wifi and VOIP apps (Viber, Vonage, Google)
Verizon Tablet LTE
[$20 - 1 Gig per month (same as Option 1)]
* 24 months = $480
Page Plus Prepaid (Verizon Network)
[$80 Refill card - lasts a year - rates @ 4 cents per minute; 5 cents per ]text
* 2 years = $160
+ $459 (plus sales tax for LTE Mini
[$20 - 1 Gig per month (same as Option 1)]
* 24 months = $480
Page Plus Prepaid (Verizon Network)
[$80 Refill card - lasts a year - rates @ 4 cents per minute; 5 cents per ]text
* 2 years = $160
+ $459 (plus sales tax for LTE Mini
TOTAL = ~ $1,099
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Option 2 is cheaper by: $861
Option 3 is cheaper by: $1,294
Option 4 is cheaper by: $1,661
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With anyone of these other options, you can purchase a new iPad mini every single year and still be ahead of the typical user who sticks with the convenience of option 1. You also have the freedom to choose and move to whichever carrier you like; upgrade or downgrade whenever you like too.
Option 4 is exactly what I use at the moment and it has allowed me to purchase a new iPhone every single year and still be ahead. Call quality via Viber or Vonage is second to none anyway, as they use HD calls.
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You mean we would get to carry around 2 devices instead of 1??? And spend half an hour typing out a text message on a dumbphone keypad!?!? OMG SIGN ME UP! THAT SOUNDS AMAZEBALLS!
Most people I text are on viber, iMessage, facetime, or skype anyway.
Work phone is a whole other story and they pay for it.
The difference between our numbers are the following:
- your savings is expressed in 2 years, mine is annually
- my data plan is 6GB for iPhone ($30 for the data plan and adding mandatory cheap voice plan - no text/voicemails/just to compare apple to apple), and 5GB for iPads ($35/month)
I thought Canada is the worst in the world (pre-iPhone era) and now it appears AT&T is the worst of them all lol.
I thought you guys had these ridiculous 3 year contracts. When it comes to postpaid wireless, American carriers are expensive.
Have a look at what folks pay on tmobile or three in the UK, we're an absolute rip-off compared to them.
I'd carry 10 devices; heck I'd get rid it all all together, before I wasted $2,232 on a sub-standard cell service on a contract.
The only good thing about us is that once you are off the 3 year contracts, you keep your plan on PAYG... as long as you stop asking for subsidized phone you are in the clear.
And most of the time you can negotiate a "loyalty/retention" contract which saves you a few more bucks over the course of the contract when you resign.
No.
For a start as has been said the features will be weaker than the current Iphone (like the way Ipod touch is).
Another point is it's not a phone, it doesn't have an antenna to make calls. All this posts I hear "I just Facetime or just Imessage"...well welcome to the real world 99% of us still call and SMS to yes non Apple people!
What Ipad mini does it cater for a small market..might be quite popular in different fields but it will always be weaker to Ipad and Iphone. It's only on the market to combat sales of smaller TABLETS.
I know it's perfect for some peoples needs but it's a small tablet, budget, minimal features to get people on the tablet market.